LEON – Offended by insults to his countrymen, a Mexican lawyer-businessman is going to introduce “Trump” brand toilet paper.
Antonio Battaglia will begin producing toilet paper under the slogan ‘Softness without borders’.
Mexico’s Institute of Industrial Property has granted Trump’s company trademarks on his name in sectors such as construction, hotels, tourism, real estate and financial services. But the Trump Organization didn’t bother to cover what’s referred to in Spanish as “hygenic paper”, and Battaglia’s trademark for Trump toilet paper was approved in October 2015, according to the institute’s records.
Packages are expected to begin rolling off production lines later this year, with 30% of the profits promised to programs supporting migrants.
Battaglia said he was “really bothered” when Trump launched his presidential bid by characterizing migrants who enter the US illegally as criminals, drug runners and rapists.
“My thinking was: We can’t keep quiet, right?” he said. “So with this insult that was made, (I figured) I’m going to add my grain of sand in response.”
Battaglia said he has signed a contract to manufacture a small initial run worth about 400,000 pesos ($21,400), enough to fill two cargo trucks. He said he hopes to generate enough demand to expand production.
Battaglia says he is well within Mexican law as the legal trademark-holder, with no direct link between his product and U.S. President Donald Trump or his image.
